Sam Katon

At the Nexus Global Health conference, hosted in Hobart, one of the most memorable sessions for me was the static stations. I took on the role of team leader during a scenario set in a rural hospital with limited resources. We were faced with two patients: one who was relatively stable, and another in septic shock. The challenge was balancing priorities, making rapid assessments, and working out how to allocate scarce resources including just a single bag of fluids. It was a high pressure exercise that really highlighted the importance of leadership, communication, and creative problem solving in rural and resource limited settings. Despite the intensity, I found it incredibly fun and rewarding, and it reinforced for me how much I enjoy the teamwork aspect of clinical care.

Another highlight was a completely different kind of workshop sewing felt hearts with a group of retired RNs. The idea was simple but powerful: creating small tokens of kindness that can be given to patients, carers, or anyone in need of a moment of brightness. Sitting together, stitching and sharing stories, really underscored the human side of healthcare. It was a reminder that sometimes it’s the smallest gestures a handmade heart, a smile, a moment of listening that can have the most lasting impact.